The Closer Report: April 15, 2010 3 Saves, 1 Blown Save

SAVES:
Mariano Rivera (4) - Chalk up another easy save for Rivera.  He entered the 6-2 game with two outs in the ninth inning and two runners on.  He got his batter and recorded his fourth save of the season on four pitches.

Matt Capps (4) - Capps is on fire.  He recorded his fourth save of the season for the Nationals.  It wasn't easy.  He was needed for 1.2 innings and gave up a run on three hits, including a home run to Shane Victorino.  While he notched a strikeout and the save, Capps has been scary at best.  Keep your fingers crossed.

Trevor Hoffman (3) - Hoffman was roughed up again, but notched the save.  He gave up a run on two hits and his ERA has skyrocketed to 12.60 to start the season. 

BLOWN SAVES:

Chad Qualls (BS 1) - Qualls just doesn't have the stuff to close.  He pitched well, but gave up three hits (one should have been an error on S. Drew) and gave up two runs. He threw 26 pitches and gave up two runs on three hits and two walks.  It's easy to say that Qualls will not close tomorrow if needed.


APPEARANCES:
Billy Wagner - Looked outstanding again, striking out two on 13 pitches (9 strikes).

Matt Lindstrom - Came into the game with a 5-1 lead and disposed of the Cardinals on 12 pitches and recorded a strikeout.

Ryan Madson - Entered the game in a losing situation just to get work and got touched up for two runs on two hits and a walk.

Francisco Rodriguez - Still no saves, but notched two more strikeouts while getting some work.

Jonathan Broxton (1-0) - Entered the game in the 10th inning and had an easy 1-2-3 inning with a strikeout.

Listen to Todd "The True Guru" Farino breakdown all the closer activity three times a week on Blog Talk Radio. Every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 11pm PST. www.blogtalkradio.com/the-closer-report or download the podcast on ITunes!

The Closer Report: April 14, 2010 8 Saves, 1 Blown Save

NEWS:

Brian Fuentes was placed on the DL by the Angels and Fernando Rodney will take over as closer until Fuentes is able to return.  For Fuentes, it's another back issue and that could last up to six weeks.  With backs, you just don't know.

SAVES:

Joakim Soria (2) - Soria entered the game with two outs in the eighth inning and a runner on.  He promptly walked Scott Sizemore, but struck out Kelly to end the eighth.  He then had a quite ninth inning, recording another strikeout  and needing 17 total pitches.  He looked incredibly sharp in the ninth inning.

Carlos Marmol (3) - Pitched the perfect inning, striking out the side on 15 pitches.  I expect more innings like this from Marmol.

David Aardsma (4) - Aardsma recorded his AL leading fourth save tonight beating the Athletics 4-2.  He pitched a perfect inning and recorded a strikeout on 12 pitches.

Ryan Franklin (3) - Closed out the Astros in quick and easy 1-2-3 fashion.  He needed only 6 pitches for the save.  That is Franklin at his best, pitching to contact.

Neftali Feliz (2) Feliz got his second save in as many days.  He was tested in the eighth inning, being brought in with runners on first and second and two outs.  He answered the call by getting Cabrera to fly out to deep center.  He added a walk and a strikeout in the ninth inning. 

Jonathan Papelbon (3) - Paps nailed his third save of the season, but still doesn't look right.  He needed 21 pitches to dispose of the Twins and was all over the place.  He finished with two walks and no strikeouts.

Burke Badenhop (1) - Closed out the game for the Marlins and looked sharp.  The 26-year old recorded his first major league save logging two innings, striking out three.  I have no reason to believe that this move was to give the beat up Marlin bullpen a rest.  Nunez had pitched the three days before, so it's no threat to his job.

Fernando Rodney (1) - On the day that he got the job, Rodney saved his first game.  He looked like vintage Rodney, needing nine pitches to end the Yankees day.

BLOWN SAVE:

Franklin Morales (BS1) - Blew a big save for the Rockies, giving up an unearned run on a sacrifice fly.  You can't blame it completely on Morales and he actually pitched well.  However, the bottom-line stat is a blown save.

APPEARANCES:
Billy Wagner - Pitched a long ninth inning, walking two and striking out a pair in a non-save situation.

Listen to Todd "The True Guru" Farino breakdown all the closer activity three times a week on Blog Talk Radio. Every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 11pm PST. www.blogtalkradio.com/the-closer-report or download the podcast on ITunes!

The Closer Report: April 5, 2010 - 4 Saves, 1 Win, 12 Appearances

By Todd Farino, http://www.thecloserreport.com/

Baseball is here and the closers are coming out to play.  Here is the report from April 5, 2010. 

Note: since there are days off early in the season we are seeing lots of closers just getting work in, but not coming in for a save opprotunity.

SAVES:

Franklin Morales (1)- Pitching for the injured Huston Street, Morales looked good, but still got roughed up my the Brewers. He opened up the ninth a bit nervous and hit Rickie Weeks. He then gave up a double to Carlos Gomez, but settled done after that getting the next three batters out on hard line drives. Morales looked good, but he was hit hard. Let's hope he can improve on that and rack up the strikeouts.

Brian Wilson (1) - Wilson entered the game with one out in the ninth after Brandon Medders gave up a couple of runs.  Wilson looked very sharp getting out both batters he faced, striking out Manzella.  In all, he needed seven pitches to end the game.

David Aardsma (1) - Aardsma got a save thanks to the Kevin Kouzmanoff.  Aardsma shaked off a shakey spring to mow down three batters, striking out two.  His command owas a little off, but his fastball was shapr and looked much better than it did just a week ago.

Brian Fuentes (1) - Fuentes started off strong with a 1-2-3 perfect inning save.  He struck out one on 10 pitches.  He was setup nicely by Fernando Rodney and her looked in mid-season form already.

BLOWN SAVES:

Jason Frasor (1, 0-1) - Frasor blew his first save of the season and looked awful against a tough Texas lineup. Frasor was hit hard, giving up 2 doubles and a game winning long single to Saltalamacchia. The line isn't pretty, .1 IP, 2ER, 4H, 1 IBB, 1K. Frasor's pitches looked week. His velocity wasn't there and his breaking ball was flat. He should be fine and get better with time.

CLOSER WINS

Frank Francisco (1-0) - Francisco pitched a near perfect ninth and ended up with the win for Texas. On 17 pitches he struck out two and gave up one hit.

APPEARANCES

Ryan Franklin - Here is the Ryan Franklin I know.  Granted it's his first appearance of the season and the score was 11-4 when he came in, he still didn't pitch well.  His pitches were flat and very hittable.  He got lucky bad swings form Gnomes and Cabrera for outs, but gave up three hits to
Dickerson, Votto, and Phillips.  The end result was 2 runs and no strikeouts in a wasted appearance for the Cardinals closer.

Andrew Bailey - Bailey looked healthy, but he wasn't his sharpest.  He got screwed on an error by Kevin Kouzmanoff and them gave up a 2-1 base hit to Casey Kotchman that scored two unearned runs.  Regardless of the outcome, Bailey owners can let out a sigh of relief that their closer is alright.  Brad Ziegler took the loss.

Francisco Rodriguez - Pitched a perfect and quiet ninth inning for the Mets.  He showed excellent command, only needing 14 pitches to take out the Marlins.

Octavio Dotel - Faced three batters, striking out one.  He only needed 10 pitches to end the game and looked outstanding.

Billy Wagner - Wagner made his first appearance as a Brave and looked like the Wagner of old.  He struck out two on 11 pitches.  He faced the minimum three batters.

Jose Valverde - Valverde came into the ninth inning with a 4-run lead and he was pumped up as only Valverde can be.  He wasn't his sharpest as he needed 24 pitches to close out the game.  He did have to work around a walk and a error, but in the end a strong inning.  He recorded one strikeout.

SIDE NOTES:

Matt Thornton - Thornton looked great for the White Sox pitching a perfect ninth.  He struck out two and needed 10 pitches, throwing all strikes.  He's my odds on favorite to get the job if Jenks fails to hold onto it.

Listen to Todd "The True Guru" Farino breakdown all the closer activity three times a week on Blog Talk Radio. Every Sunday, Tuesday, and Thursday at 11pm PST. www.blogtalkradio.com/the-closer-report  or download the podcast on ITunes!